Charles c



C. C. TOMKINSON.

Mov/mue COLUMN.

APPLICATION FILED MN.26. |918.

` Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. C. TOMKINSON.

MOVABLE COLUMN.

APPLICATION min 1AN.2s.191.

Patented July 15, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHABLESC. TOMKINSON, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 J. EDWARD GGDEN', 0F MOUNTAINVILLE, CORNWALL, NEW YORK.

MOYABLE COLUMN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Iatgnted July 15, 1919.

Application filed January 26, 1918. Serial No. 213,863.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. TOMKIN- soN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Plainfield, county of' Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Movable Columns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to movable columns, and particularly to such as are used to define adjacent door openings, and its object is to provide a simple mechanism by means of which such columns may be moved laterally to throw two o1- more door openings into one.

Another object is to provide' a mechanism which is free from-complications and which will require no clearance space within a building structure to which it is applied, such as is needed for example, where hinged columns which swing inwardly are used.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective arrangement for centering and for locking the movable columns in position.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I will now proceed to describe the same in the following specification and lthen point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of an end of a building'with a mechanism which embodies this invention applied thereto, the View be` ing taken from the outside of the building.

Fig. 2is a sectional plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Both of these figures are more or less diagrammatic.

Fig. 3 is an elevation on` a larger scale, of certain parts of the building structure showing the construction of the mechanism which embodies my invention more in detail, with one of the movable columns in one of its intermediate positions.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the movable columns and adjacent parts, with the column in its position to form a division 4between two door openings.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view showing a fixed column and a movable column with a two-section door guided between them.

Fig. G is a sectional plan view of the parts at the lower part of Fig. 4, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of the latter figure.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of one of the stationary columns and a movable column in adjacent intel-locked relation. The section is taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

10 is one end of a building structure near the sides of which are stationary columns 11 and 12, each provided with vertical guide grooves such as 13 and 14 for door sections 15 and 16. These columns extend u i above the door openings. Above the lintel of the door openings are two other stationary vertical tracks 17 and 18 aflixed to the building and provided on opposite sides with door section guide grooves. The part of the building structure which forms the lintely ofthe door openings is designated by the reference numeral 19.

Offset inwardly froml the lintel and slightly below it, is a stationary I-beam 20 which supports trolleys 21, each of which has wheels 22 and 23 which run on the lower flange of the I-beam. Afiixed to the journal of the wheel 23 is a chain wheel 24 over which runs an endless hand chain 25 by means of which the wheel 23 may be rotated and the trolley moved on the track formed by the beam 20.

30 and 31 are movable columns on one side of each of which is a bracket 32 through which projects a pin 2G on the trolley which Vthus supports the column, the brackets and pins forming pivotal connections between the columns and the trolleys. The movable columns are constructed to form door section guides 83, 33 and 34, 84. 35, are centering blocks on thel outside of the lower end. of each movable column, Separated from one another and with their proximate edges beveled, and on the inside of these columns are vertically slidable bolts 36. On the upper end of each movable column is a bracket 37 having an upper curved surface slightly eccentric with pin 26, so that the curved sur.

face of 37 swings away from the curved surface of 44, thus providing a clearance to permit the lateral movement of the column, without friction between the two curved surfaces, from the lower end of 'which bracket projects a beveled lug 38.

y4() is a iioor plate having an upstanding stop 41, the inner face of which is beveled to fit between the blocks 35. This floor plate is constructed with a'shallow groove 42 for guiding the lower end of the bolt 36 and with a socket 43 into which this bolt may be lowered.

Stationary brackets 44 are affixed to the lintel 19 at properly spaced intervals. The /under surfaces of these brackets are concave to provide -clearance for the convex upper surface of the column brackets 37. The lower ends of the stationary brackets are cut away to form recesses 45 with beveled edges. The beveled lugs 38 of the column brackets fit into these recesses.

Angle brackets 46 in the stationary columns 11 and 12, and 47 in the movable columns 30, 31, limit the downward movement of the upper door sections 16.

When the movable columns 30 and 31 are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, flanges on the vertical edges of the lower door sections fit the guide grooves 13 and 33 of the stationary and movable col umns respectively, and similar flanges on the upper door sections fit thefguide grooves 14 and 34. Suitable mechanism may be provided to raise the door sections yup into the parts of the stationary columns' 11 and 12 which extend up above the lintel 19 and into the tracks 17 and 18 which are in alinement with the movable columns 30 and 31, not shown as it forms no part of this invention which in fact is not limited to any particular type of door.

After the door sections have been. moved out of engagement with the movable columns the :bolts 36 ma be raised. Because the points of suspension of the movable columns are not above their centers of gravity the columns will swing inwardly into some such point as that indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4 and designated by 30A. This will move the blocks 35 away from the stops 41 and move the lugs 38 out of the sockets 45, and cause the curved face of bracketv 37 to recede from contact with the curved surface of bracket 44. Now the columns 30 and 31 or either of them may be moved across the door opening by means of the hand chain 25. lV hen the column 30 for example,- has nearly reached the column 11, it may be swung back about its supporting pin 26 into such a position as to permit the flange 50 of an angle iron affixed to the stationary column 11 to enter the groove34. The other flange of this angle iron is pro- 'center the upper ends of the columns.

vided with a hole 51 to receive a slide bolt 52 on the column 30;

Reversing this operation will bring the movable columns back into alinement with they are swung into their vertical positions'.

The columns are moved by hand into such positions that their bolts 36 will engage theshallow grooves 42. Then as they approach their final positions the blocks 35 will engage the stops 41.v The beveled` engaging surfaces of these parts insure the proper centering of the lower ends of the columns and the bolts 36 when forced down into their sockets 43, coperating with the stops 41, will hold the columns in position to make their guides 33 and 34 parallel with the guides 13 and 14 ofthe stationary columns. At the same time the blocks 35 are being brought into engagement with the stops 41, the lugs 38 at the top of the columns will move into their sockets 45, and the beveled engagin-o surfaces of these parts serve po t will be seen that the lugs 38 and their sockets 45 are offset on the opposite side of the door vfrom the offset position of the pins 26 v to amplify the movement of the lugs so as to provide for a greater amount of centering movement.

A structure of preferred form and construction has been illustrated and described for the purpose of showing a way in' which this invention may be used, but the inventive thought upon which this application is based, is broader than this illustrative em bodiment thereof, and I therefore intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims. l

What l vclaim is:

ls A structure having an openA side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor arranged to move with the column across said open side, means for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said column being arranged to swing free from said holding means, and releasable means for locking the column from swinging.

2. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor arranged to move with the column across said open side, means near the top and bot- Atom of the column for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said column being arranged to swing free from both of said holding means, and releasable tom of the column for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said columnfbeing arranged to swing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the support free" from both of said holding means and releasable means "for locking the co umn vfrom swinging.

o. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open sideinto adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, means for holding the column vin a predetermined fixed position, said support being arranged to Cgive the column a tendency to swing towar the side on which the support is located, free from said holding means, and releasa'ble means for locking the column from swinging.

6. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open sidel into adjacent door openings, a support ytherefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, means on the other side of the column for holding the column in a predetermined "fixed position, said support being arranged to glve the column a tendency to from swinging.

swing toward the sideon which the support is located, ,free from said holding means, and releasable means for locking the column 7. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column, arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, means near the top and bottom of the column on the side thereof opposite said support for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said support being arranged to glive the column a tendency to swin toward t e side on which the support is located, free from both of said holdingI means, and releasable means for locking the column from swinging.

8. A. structure having an open side and a longitudinal track parallel therewith, a trolley arranged to move on said track, a column at one side of the track supported thereby and movable therewith, means near the top and bottom of the column on the side thereof opposite the track for holding the column in a predetermined fixed osition, the connection of the trolley with t 1e column being arranged to give the column a tendenc to swing on the trolley toward the side on w lich the track is located free from both of said holdin, means, and a vertically slidable bolt for loc ing the column from swinging.

9. A structure having an open side and a horizontal Itrack parallel therewith, a trolley arranged to r'un on said track, a column at one side of the track supported thereby andV movable therewith, means near the top and bottom of the column on the side thereof opposite the track for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, a pivotal connection between the column and the trolley, the connection of the trolley with the column being arranged to give the column a tendency to swing about said pivotal connection at a right angle to the track free from both of sald'holding means, theholding,` means near the top of the column bein offset from the column, and a vertically s idahle bolt near the bottom of the column for holding the column from swinging.

10. A structure having ar open side and a longitudinal track parallel therewith, a trolley arranged to move on said track, a column at one side of the track supported there .by and movable therewith, means near the top and bottom of the column on the side thereof opposite the track for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said column having a tendency to swing on ioo the trolle toward the side on which the track i 'V arranged to move with the column across said open side, and means for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, means for connecting the column with the support, said means being arranged to permit the column to swing at an angle to the direction of movement of the support, free from said holding means, and back into engagement therewith, sald holding means beinnr arranged to center the colunm in its fixec position as the column is swung-back into engagement therewith.

12. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a Support therefor arranged to move with the column across said open side, and means near the top and bottom of the columns for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, means for connecting the column with the support, said means being arranged to permit the column to swing at an angle to the direction of movement of the support, free from both of said holding means and back into engagement therewlth, said holding means being arranged to center the column in its fixed position as the column is swung back into engagement therewith.

13. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged c to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, means on the other side of the column for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said support lbeing'arranged to give the column a tendency to swing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the support toward the side on which the support is located, free from said holding means and being arranged to permit the column to be swung back into engagement with the holding means, said holding means being provided with beveled surfaces arranged tol center the column in its fixed position as the column is swung back into engagement therewith, and releasable means for locking,

the column in its engaged position.

14. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide saidv open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, means near the top and bottom of the column on the other side thereof for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position, said support being arranged to give the column a tendency to swing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the support toward the side on which the support is located, free from both of said holding means and being arranged to permit the column to be swung back into engagement therewith, both of said holding means being provided with beveled surfaces arranged to center the columnl in its fixed position as the column is swung back into engagement therewith, and releasable means for locking the column in its engaged position. v

15. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, a bracket near the upper end of the column on the side thereof opposite its support and offset from said Column, and a fixed bracket on the structure, said brackets having coengaging beveled surfaces, said supportV being arranged to give the column a tendency to swing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the support to disengage said brackets and to permit the column to be swung back intobracket engaging position.

16. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, a bracket nea-r the upper end of the column on the side thereof opposite its support and offset from said support, a fixed bracket on the structure, said brackets having coengaging beveled surfaces, said support being arranged to give the column a tendency to swing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the support to disengage said brackets and to permit the column to be swung back into bracket engaging position, a. vertically slidable bolt near the bottom of the column for locking the kcolumn from swinging, and a floor plate constructed to form a groove. for receiving the end of the bolt and thereby guiding the column and with a locking socket for the bolt.

17. A structure having an open side, a column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door openings, a support therefor at one side of the column arranged to move with the column in a direction parallel with said open side, a bracket near the upper end of the column on the side thereof opposite its support and offset from said support, a fixed bracket on the structure, said brackets having coengaging beveled surfaces, said support being arranged to give the column a tendency to swing at a right angle to lthe direction of movement of the support to disengage said brackets and to permit the column to be swung back into bracket engaging position, a vertically slida movable column arranged to divide said open side into adjacent door.openings, a support for the movable column arranged to move with the column across said open side, means for holding the column in a predetermined fixed position away from the stationary column, said movable column befixed column at one side of the open side, j

lary column and swung into a position suhstantally parallel therewith.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of January,L 1918.

CHARLES C. TOMKIN'SOE'.

Witness I. B. MOORE. 

